Nikki Gooding, a nurse practitioner, says her Oura ring played a key role in catching symptoms that led to a cancer diagnosis. The device, which she had been wearing for nearly three years, began flagging unusual stress signals just after she returned from a trip.
At first, she thought little of her fatigue and night sweats, but the repeated alerts from her Oura app suggested something more was happening. The continuous reminders finally pushed her to take her symptoms seriously and reach out to her doctor.
Body changes and stress alerts uncover hidden cancer
Gooding explained on Good Morning America that she began receiving alerts while experiencing on-and-off body signals. “I began having some symptoms that were waxing and waning, with night sweats and fatigue. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but I kept getting alerts on my Oura ring app saying that I was displaying major signs that my body was under some sort of stress,” she said.
Alarmed, she made a medical appointment and underwent further testing. That decision revealed what she never expected: Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that develops in the lymph system. Looking back, Gooding credits her smart ring’s data with prompting her to act more quickly. “Having this information laid out in front of me definitely made me take it more seriously,” she added.
According to Gooding, her oncologist reassured her that the disease was detected at an early stage. “Luckily, my oncologist actually said that he doesn’t think that I’ve had lymphoma for any longer than six months,” she explained. “So I think that we did catch it pretty early.”
What is an Oura ring used for?
Gooding shared her story publicly in a TikTok video posted in March, which has since been viewed over 2 million times. In the video, she reflected on how the device influenced her response. “If I didn’t have the Oura ring, I’m sure I would have figured it out eventually, but having this information, like, laid out in front of me definitely made me take it more seriously,” she said.
The Oura ring tracks a variety of health metrics that give users insight into their body’s condition. It monitors heart rate, which can indicate stress or fatigue; body temperature, which may show early signs of illness; respiratory rate, providing clues about overall respiratory health; oxygen saturation, important for detecting potential issues with blood oxygen levels; and sleep patterns, which reflect recovery and overall wellness.
These multiple data points create a detailed picture of the body’s state, helping users notice unusual changes they might otherwise overlook.
Medical experts also note that wearables can be useful in prompting people to seek care sooner, but stress that they should not replace professional evaluation. Gooding’s case shows how such tools can serve as a wake-up call, even if they are not meant for diagnosis.
Her experience highlights how personal health data can make a difference when paired with medical advice. By paying attention to the alerts, she was able to get an early start on treatment for a serious condition.